A copyright claim refers to either a copyright removal request or a Content ID claim, which are 2 different ways to assert copyright ownership on YouTube.
How are copyright removal requests and Content ID claims different?
If any copyright owner finds their copyright-protected content on YouTube without their authorization, they can submit a copyright removal request, also known as a "takedown notice" or simply a "takedown". It is a legal request to remove content from YouTube due to alleged copyright infringement. Learn more below.
Some copyright owners use Content ID, a tool that automatically scans YouTube for copyright-protected content. When Content ID finds a match, the matching content gets a Content ID claim. What happens to the matching content depends on the copyright owner's Content ID settings. Learn more below.
This video explains more about the difference between copyright removal requests and Content ID claims:
Copyright Takedowns & Content ID - Copyright on YouTubeCopyright removal requests
Copyright law requires sites like YouTube to process copyright removal requests. Removal requests must meet all the legal requirements to be considered valid.
What happens if my content is removed because of a copyright removal request?
When your content is removed due to a copyright removal request, a copyright strike is applied to your channel.
Content ID claims
Unlike copyright removal requests, which are defined by law, Content ID is a tool created by YouTube. ​​When Content ID finds a match, it applies a Content ID claim on the matching content.
What happens if my content gets a Content ID claim?
Depending on the copyright owner's Content ID settings, Content ID claims can:
- Block content from being viewed.
- Monetize content by running ads on it and sometimes sharing revenue with the uploader.
- Track the viewership statistics on the content.
Any of these actions can be geography-specific. For example, a video can be monetized in one country/region and blocked or tracked in a different country/region.
Keep in mind that when content is tracked or monetized, it stays viewable on YouTube with the active Content ID claim on it. Usually, copyright owners choose to track or monetize videos, not block them.